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Victory Day in Turkey

Military parades and ceremonies at monuments to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded the Turkish Republic, are some common ways to celebrate Victory Day in Turkey. Turkish flags often adorn shops, public offices and people's houses on this day.

What do people do?

Many people in Turkey celebrate Victory Day by attending military parades, which take place in many big cities throughout the country. Air forces celebrate the day with demonstration flights. The jets involved in such flights usually leave a red-and-white trail, symbolizing the Turkish flag.

Residents and shop owners decorate their windows with Turkish flags and images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. State officials attend a ceremony at Atatürk's Mausoleum in Ankara. All promotions in the Turkish Armed Forces take place on this day, and military schools hold annual graduation ceremonies on August 30.

Public life

Victory Day is a national public holiday in Turkey on August 30. Administration buildings and schools are closed on this day. Workers in private companies may have a day off or work until noon, but most large supermarkets and shops stay open. Public transport routes may vary in the event of street parades.

Background

Victory Day in Turkey commemorates the key Turkish victory against Greek forces in the Battle of Dumlupınar (August 26-30, 1922). The outcome of the battle, which took place in Kütahya province in western Turkey, determined the overall outcome of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923).

Although foreign forces left the country for good in the autumn (or fall) of 1922, Turkish people accept August 30 as the date of the Turkish troops’ overall victory. Victory Day was first celebrated in only a few cities in Turkey – such as Ankara, Izmir and Afyonkarahisar – on August 30, 1923. It became a national holiday in 1935.

Symbols

The Turkish flag and images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk are the symbols of Victory Day in Turkey.

Victory Day Observances

Select another year-range:

Weekday

Date

Year

Name

Holiday type

Thu

Aug 30

1990

Victory Day

National holiday

Fri

Aug 30

1991

Victory Day

National holiday

Sun

Aug 30

1992

Victory Day

National holiday

Mon

Aug 30

1993

Victory Day

National holiday

Tue

Aug 30

1994

Victory Day

National holiday

Wed

Aug 30

1995

Victory Day

National holiday

Fri

Aug 30

1996

Victory Day

National holiday

Sat

Aug 30

1997

Victory Day

National holiday

Sun

Aug 30

1998

Victory Day

National holiday

Mon

Aug 30

1999

Victory Day

National holiday

Wed

Aug 30

2000

Victory Day

National holiday

Thu

Aug 30

2001

Victory Day

National holiday

Fri

Aug 30

2002

Victory Day

National holiday

Sat

Aug 30

2003

Victory Day

National holiday

Mon

Aug 30

2004

Victory Day

National holiday

Tue

Aug 30

2005

Victory Day

National holiday

Wed

Aug 30

2006

Victory Day

National holiday

Thu

Aug 30

2007

Victory Day

National holiday

Sat

Aug 30

2008

Victory Day

National holiday

Sun

Aug 30

2009

Victory Day

National holiday

Mon

Aug 30

2010

Victory Day

National holiday

Tue

Aug 30

2011

Victory Day

National holiday

Thu

Aug 30

2012

Victory Day

National holiday

Fri

Aug 30

2013

Victory Day

National holiday

Sat

Aug 30

2014

Victory Day

National holiday

Sun

Aug 30

2015

Victory Day

National holiday

Tue

Aug 30

2016

Victory Day

National holiday

Wed

Aug 30

2017

Victory Day

National holiday

Thu

Aug 30

2018

Victory Day

National holiday

Fri

Aug 30

2019

Victory Day

National holiday

Sun

Aug 30

2020

Victory Day

National holiday

Quick Facts

Turkey annually celebrates Victory Day on August 30, commemorating the Turkish victory over Greek invaders in 1922.